80 MR. J. HASSELL 



globe as a whole," that we are unable to comprehend this on account of its 

 vastness. Just in the same way we are unable to conceive the distance of 

 the sun from the earth. Ninety millions of miles is such an enormous 

 distance that the mention of it conveys no distinct idea. I have tried to 

 get a more distinct conception of what these figures imply by referring the 

 matter to a comparison [founded on the familiar idea of ordinary railway 

 travelling. In a rough sort of way it about comes to this, that if there 

 could be such a thing as a railway from this planet to the sun, and if a 

 messenger had been sent thither by an express train 'for the purpose of 

 carrying the news of Charles the First's execution, he would, by travelling 

 at full speed all the way, be just about getting to his destination now. This, 

 I think, gives a better idea of the enormous distance between us and the 

 sun than can be got from any statement of mere numbers. The pro- 

 position comes to this, from the vastness of the earth we cannot form a 

 distinct idea of it, and just in the same way we cannot form an adequate 

 conception of God. Yet no one can say we have not a great anjount 

 of knowledge with regard to the world, its shape and size, as well as other 

 matters. Our knowledge is, doubtless, imperfect ; but it does not follow 

 that we know nothing about it. This being so, it cannot be unthinkable. 

 Moreover, we are obliged, from experience, to believe many things which, 

 without that experience, we should pronounce unthinkable. One of the 

 most familiar phenomena is the falling to earth of anything we may let drop. 

 Now, supposing we had been brought up in a place — and it would not 

 require omnipotence to produce such a place — where the effect of gravita- 

 tion was neutralised, we should be unaware, unless magnetic and electric 

 experiments had been made, of any instance of one body acting on another 

 from a distance ; and I am satisfied that, in that case, everybody would have 

 said it was impossible and unthinkable that one body could act on another 

 or exert any influence upon it in that way. The fact is, however, admitted, 

 and few people think of its being a mystery ; yet it was a mystery which 

 puzzled so great a mind as that of Newton, and even now we cannot 

 understand how the result is produced, and probably we never shall. 

 At all events, it is not understood, and cannot be explained. Therefore 

 I think it is an idle thing to say we cannot believe anything because Ave 

 have no conception how it can take place. 



Mr. Tyler (a Visitor). — Although I do not usually agree with Mr. Herbert 

 Spencer, I was inclined to think, while Mr. Hassell was reading his paper, 

 that I did concur with him, as the last speaker seems to have done, as to our 

 not being able to form any conception of the world as a whole. I do not 

 know whether Mr. Hassell has met with any captain who, having sailed 

 several times round the world, has told him he could form such a 

 conception. Perhaps he has ; but, if so, I should be rather inclined to doubt 

 the captain's testimony. The case is somewhat similar with regard to the 

 conception of time. We can form some idea of a small space of time ; but, 

 when we have regard to a period of forty or fifty years, I cannot conceive of 



